Powee transmitter



Qct. 3o, 192s. l '1,689,245

. vG. A. KLIMEK POWER TRANSMITTER Filed July'za, 1926 v 2 sheets-sheer 1 f 50. 25 z 5l I n-mm MMMWWM A UUR/VE V5 Oct. 30, 1928. l 1,689,245 G. A. KLIMEK PwER TRANSMITTER Filed July 28, 1926 2' Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS Patented Got. 3Q, 1928..

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eUsTAv A. KLiiviEK, OE EAST RUT-HERFORD, NEW JEESEY, AssIeNoE To TUEBTNE PATENTS CORPORATION, OE NEW YORK, N. Y., A ooEroEATon OE DELAWARE.

POWER TRANSMITTER.

Application filed July 28,

rllhis invention relates to power transmitters of that type in which a mechanically Operable clutch is connected in series with a hydraulic newer transn'iitter of the Fttinger type, certain forms of'which are shown and broadly claimed in Patent 1,199,359, dated September 26th, 1916.

itlthoughmyinventionin its preferred form is particularly adapted foi` use in a motor vehicle for transmitting power from the engine to the mai propeller shaft, it is equally zip-- plicable in various other apparatus, machines and pox Yer plants for the transmission of power from a driving to a driven shaft, particularly wheie either shaft is liable to be subjected to sudden speed variations. When the mechanical clutch is closed, the power is transmitt-ed through the clutch, and the hydraulic power transmitter so that the latter serves to cushion the shock of sudden accelerating or decelerating movements of either shaft. It also serves to cushion the transmission of power at the time the clutch brought into operation.

As one main feature of my invention I so design and so place the mechanical clutch parts inA respect to the rotors of the hydra ulic mech-- anisin that the unit is of very compact form and easily operable.

As a. further important object of my invention, the mechanical clutch parts are so positioned that 1 may employ the minimum number of such part-s, operate the parts through the minimum distance, and provide the minimum torsional strains at the clutch faces.

To accomplish this object l malte the clutch of the maximum diameter in respect to the c iameterofthe unit in which it is to be employed. T his is an important advantage over any design in which the clutch is encircled by one or both of the hydraulic rotors, as has been here tofore proposed. By bringing the clutch face to the maximum distance from the axis of rotation, the full effect of a multiple disk clutch may be secured by the employment of only three clutch blades or members, and thus for a given axial movement the members arespaced to a far greater distance, and there is less drag than is the case of a multiple disk clutch of small diameter. Furthermore, the larger the clutch faces the smaller need be the pressure required for holding them tog-ether, and

. therefore in my improved,construction the clutch may be disengaged by the application of comparatively light pressure on the clutch 1926. Serial No. 125,343.

pedal or other operating part. Various other features of my invention will be hereinafter pointed out, or will be apparent from a consideration of the preferred embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings:

In these drawings 1 is a central longitudinal section of a device embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a partial end view showing particularly the. clutch operating mechanism, and

Fig 3 is a section similar to a portion of Fig. 1, but showing another form which may be employed for carrying out my invention. I

'In the specific construction illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, there is provided a fly wheel 10 which may be secured in any suitable manner to one of the two shafts, for instance the drive suhaft 11. Thisnshaft is shown as having a fiange 12 to which the web of the fly wheel may oe secured. For use with a self-starter the fly wheel may have a gear 13 formed in-7 tegral therewith or rigidly secured thereto. 1n connection with this ily wheel I employ a hydraulic power transmitter which includes a centrifugal pump iinpeller 14- and a turbine 15. rl`hese two are each provided with fluid passages so juxtaposed that tli'e fluid forced from the outlets of the passages of the iinpeller strilie the blades of the turbine and cause the latter to rotate in the saine direction. rihe turbine includes a sheet metal casing which is secured to the flange 16 of a sleeve 17 mounted on the driven shaft 18. Preferably the sleeve and shaft are so connected as to permit relative longitudinal movement but prevent relative rotary movement. 'l`he sleeve at one end has a stud 19 which projects into a socket in the end of the drive shaft 11 and is there supported by ball bearings so as to keep fthe sleeve and driven shaft aligned with the Vdriving shaft 11.

rlhe impeller 1e has a sheet metal casing which is secured to the flange 2O of a sleeve 21 which is rotatably mounted on the sleeve 17. Thetwo flanges 16 and 2O have peripheral portions juxtaposed to complete the peripheral wall ot' the fluid circulating chamber of' the hydraulic transmitter.

The turbine or driven member 15 of the transmitter is disposed within a casing,

which casing is attached to the impeller member lil. This includes a sheet metal wall 22 disposed between the turbine member 15 and the fly wheel. At the center it has a cup poi'- tion which is disposed within the ball bearflangesalso form one element of the mechanical clutch.

The flanges may be reinforced by a. pair of annular members 27 riveted or otherwise secured thereto, and presenting the friction faces ofl this clutch element.

r `he fly wheel l() has an inwardly extending, detachable flange 28 which serves as a clutch face for engagement with the outer Y surface of one of the annular members 27 and italso has an'axially movable clutch element 29 which is pressed toward the other member 27 by a series ofcoil springs 30. The menibers 2S and29 are held against rotation in respect'to the fly wheel, and serve to grip the `casing of the hydraulicunit and the impeller member of said unit rigidly to the fly wheel, and canse the impeller unit to turn with the fly wheel. By forcing the member 29 against the action of the springs 30, the members 28 and 29 may be separated to permit of their free rotation, independent of the rotation of any part of the hydraulic unit.`

F or operating the clutch member 29 there are provided ay series of pins 31 mounted for axial movement through the clutch member or flange 2S. his flange Ihas lugs 32 serving as pivotal supports for levers 38 extending in a general radial direction. The outer ends of these levers engage the pins 31, while the inner ends engage a flange 3st of a rotatable Vcollar 35. By forcing this collar toward the right from the position shown in Fig. 1, the levers are turned so as to impart the necessary movement to the pinsy 31 and open the clutch. The springs 430 normally keep the parts in the position illustrated.

The mechanism for ope 'ating the collar 8o is shown as including a sleeve 36 keyed to .but slidable along the shaft 18 and provided with a flange 37 spaced from the collar 35 by a thrustbearing 38. At its outer end the sleeve 36 has an outwardly entendingflange 39 which carries a thrust bearing 40 spaced from the thrust bearing 3S, so as to leave a groove to receive the rollers or inwardly projecting pins of a clutch lever 41. Thus, by

means of this lever the sleeve 36 may be moved in either direction to apply or release the clutch.

y The clutch operating mechanism 'is preferably provided with a suitable brake, whereby the` rotation of the driven member may be retarded or stopped bythe action of the clutch lever after the opening ofthe clutch. The shaft 18 is mounted on the ball bearings 42 inthe end wall vof a gear case 13,fand this case is provided with a 'packing lll'to prevent the escape of grease. The gland member 45 is provided with a flange 46 which is spaced from and parallel to the flange 39. These two flanges are provided with suitable brake linings whereby when the clutch lever Ll1 is moved to disengage the clutch, the sleeve 36 may be moved through a sufficient distance to bring these brake linings together and slow down or stop the sleeve 36 and the parts which are non-rotatably connected thereto, namely the shaft 18 and the turbine member 15 of the hydraulic unit.

Between the sleeves 21 and 17 of the two elements of the hydraulic transmitter, there is 11 rovided a packing member l17 which may be held under con'ipression by a spring 118. The collar 419 which holds this spring in position is provided with a concave flange 50, the outer edge of which is axially spaced beyond the wall of the impeller 14. Thus any lubricating oil or other fluid which may be thrown out from the shaft 18 or may work out from the packing 47, will he thrown clear of the impeller if the parts are rotating, or will drop clear of it, if they are at rest. Thus I prevent liability of oil working out along the outer surface of the impeller to the clutch members.

By reason of the large diameter of the clutch members lI may employ the minimum number of such members to give the desired area of clutch surface, Iand by reducing the number of these clutch elements "l reduce to a minimum the pressure required to hold 4them in operative engagement. and likewise reduce to a minimum the distance through which the clutch member 29 must be moved in order to completely free the parts.

The co'nstruction illustrated in Fig. 8 is very similar in most respects to that shown in Fig. 1. The main important difference is thatthe flange 16 of the turbine 'member is connected directly to the driven shaft'lSa. This is splined at its outer end, rather than in the connection between it and the sleeve carrying the flange. The driving shaft 11, instead of having a socket to' receive a stud on the driven shaft, is provided with a stud 19a projecting into'a socket in the endof the shaft 18a. The other parts may be thesame, so far as the present invention is concerned.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire'to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A power transmitter for connecting coaxial driving and driven members, including a fly wheel secured to the driving member, a hydraulic power transmitter including a centrifugal pump impeller, a turbine rotor connected ,to said drivenmelnber and juxtaposed to said impeller for receiving liquid directly from the latter andy returning said liquid to said impeller, and a clutch encircling said hy- Cil draulic power transmitter and having a driving part secured to said fly wheel and a driven part secured to said impeller.

2. In combination a fly wheel having a pair of spaced clutch parts adjacent to the periphery thereof, and relatively movable axially, a hydraulic power transmitter, including an impeller member and a turbine member, said impeller member having a clutch part j uxtaposed between said first mentioned clutch parts.

3. In combination a fIy wheel having a body portion and an inwardly directed flange spaced therefrom and serving as aclutch member, an annular clutch member axially movable in respect thereto, a hydraulic power transmitter impeller having a clutch member disposed between said first mentioned clutch members, and a turbine member uxtaposed to and adapted to be driven by said impeller member.

4. In combination a fly wheel having a pair of relatively movable clutch members at the peripheral portion thereof, a hydraulic power transmitter encircled by said clutch members and including an impeller member, a casing member secured to the latter, and a turbine member disposed between said casing member and said impeller, said casing member and impeller having a clutch member projecting radially between the clutch members of said fiy wheel.

5. In combination a fly wheel having a pair of relatively movable clutch members adjacent to the periphery thereof, a centrifugal pump impeller having a clutch member at its outer edge, projecting between said first mentioned clutch members, a driven shaft, and a turbine member juxtaposed to said impeller and connected to said driven shaft.

G. In combination a fly wheel having a pair of relatively movable clutch members adjw cent to the periphery thereof, a centrifugal pump impeller having a clutch member at its outer edge projecting between said first mentioned clutch members, a driven shaft, a turbine member juxtaposed to said impeller and connected to said driven shaft, and means carried by said impeller member for preventing movement of liquid to and along the outer surface of said clutch members.

7. In combination a fy wheel having a clutch member adjacent to the periphery thereof, a centrifugal pump impeller having a clutch member at its periphery, a driven shaft, a turbine member juxtaposed to said impeller and connected to said driven shaft, and means for effecting the engagement or disengagement of said clutch members.

8. A power transmitter lfor connecting coaxial driving and driven members, including a centrifugal pump impeller, a turbine rotor connected to said driven member and juxtaposed to said impeller for receiving liquid directly from the latter and returning said liquid to said impeller, and a clutch encircling said impeller and rotor and having a driving part secured to said driving member and a driven part secured to said impeller.

Signed at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois this 17th day of July, A. D. 1926.

GUSTAV A. KLIMEK. 

